President's Corner

Welcome to the ’11-‘12 year in the life of the Buena Vista Rotary Club. Since 1997 BV Rotarians have committed their energy and enthusiasm to the important work of Rotary International. We support humanitarian service by sharing a dream and our dollars toward the eradication of polio in the last frontiers of Nigeria, Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. We promote the peaceful understanding of cultures different from our own. Finally, we pledge to provide support for life saving clean water, a reduction in child mortality, and the support of improved education for all of the people of the world.

Closer to home, the Buena Vista Rotary Club is a club with a strong tradition of local community service. Some of the projects carried out and support we have provided include:

              •   Establishment of an active Interact Club

             •   Playground equipment for children’s park area

             •   Support of BV Low Vision Center

             •   Primary Sponsor of Balloon-A-Vista

             •   Support of Boys and Girls Club of Chaffee County

             •   Free dictionaries for 3rd graders in BV and surrounding towns

            •   Doggie stations in parks and nearby trails

            •   Rotary Day at Habitat for Humanity

           •   Food and support for residents following fire at Sunrise Manor

           •   Assistance with Trail Fest and Ride the Rockies

In a joint effort with our Interact Club, we have now made three trips to the Casa Bethel Orphanage in Juarez, Mexico. We have provided clothing, toys, funds for food and medicine, and a commercial grade washing machine. With the help of contributions from the Interact Club, as well as the Rotary Clubs of Salida, Carbondale/Aspen Glen, and Juarez Executive Rotary, we are now ready to implement an upgrade of the antiquated water system of the orphanage. Part of this project will be to establish a new raised vegetable garden area. The garden will be irrigated by gray water from the showers. The children will be able to grow some of their own food, and will learn valuable gardening skills.

I am very proud of the fact that during each of the last two years, the Buena Vista Rotary Club was awarded the Presidential Citation by the President of Rotary International. This is one of the highest awards that an individual club can achieve, and is awarded based on membership growth and service activities in a number of different areas. It is a hallmark of a strong, healthy, and vibrant club. We are well on our way to again qualifying for the Citation for the “08-’09 Rotary year.

The power of Rotary lies in the diverse skills and abilities of each and every Rotarian who come together through fellowship to unite for a common cause. We meet in fellowship. We strive to forge new relationships that will enhance our combined passion for service to our Buena Vista community and beyond. I am proud to say that my fellow Rotarians demonstrate a willingness to give back to our local and international communities like no other group of people I have met. Rotary is definitely about “Service Above Self”. We will demonstrate how thankful we are for our many blessings by focusing on positive outcomes for those in this world that need the most. Good people doing great work into 2009.

Yours in service,

Larry J. Soukup, President ’08-‘09